Feed rate adjuster for web collator



P 29, 1970 R. P. CONSALVO 3,531,101

FEED RATE ADJUSTER FOR WEB COLLATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1968 INVENTOR BY EMS), Ed/mmwis, OM, m luvkdwms ATTORNEYS in Q ROSARIO PAUL CONSALVO United States Patent O FEED RATE ADJUSTER FOR WEB COLLATOR Rosario Paul Consalvo, Monroe, N.Y., assignor to Hygrade Printing Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 701,202 Int. Cl. B65h 39/00 U.S. Cl. 270-52 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for synchronizing the feed rate of a plurality of webs being driven in a roll-type collator wherein a frictional surface is formed on a driven arbor associated with the web to be synchronized and the web is forced into more substantial rolling contact with the arbor until its feed rate is synchronized. Apparatus comprises a tubular member having a collar of frictional material which is keyed to the driven arbor for rotation therewith; and, means for increasing the feed rate of the web supported adjacent the frictional collar for contact with the web surface at the point Where the web passes over the frictional collar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to an improvement in a multi-set, roll-type collator and, more particularly, to a novel method and apparatus for synchronizing the feed rat s of the several sets of continuous paper webs to be collated to 'bring the sets of webs into registry.

Description of the prior art Multi-set, roll-type collators such as those manufactured by the Schriber Company of Dayton, Ohio, produce commercial forms having a plurality of carbon copies by bringing together multiple continuous sheets or Webs, usually of varying colors for identification purposes, in a set having carbon sheets or webs disposed intermediate the various copies. The layous of each copy are substantially identical and it is important that the several copies be in registry so that impressions made on the original form appear at identical corresponding locations on all of the other copies. To insure registry, each main cylinder over which the continuous webs are fed during collation includes a plurality of radially disposed pins uniformly spaced about its circumference and each continuous web includes a series of pre-punched holes along one marginal edge which mate with the pins. Although this feature allows the several webs to be fed in registry under ideal circumstances, there are instances in which the feed rates of the webs will not be uniform and the completed set will be out of registry. When a given web feeds too rapidly, the phenomenon known in the art as ashort sheet, the remedy is to decrease its feed rate. This is generally accomplished by applying a braking force to the appropriate paper roll, a procedure which may be carried out while the collator is in operation. When a given web feeds too slowly, the phenomenon known in the art as a long sheet, the remedy is to increase its feed rate. This may not be accomplished merely by decreasing the braking force on the appropriate paper roll but requires an adjustment of the pins on the main cylinders which cannot be carried out while the collator is in operation. The feed rates will vary irregularly if the paper had been stretched during printing because of improper printing press operation or during fabrication because of high humidity. In addition,

paper may also stretch if it takes a set from being kept in collator while making the necessary adjustment. Tech- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The process of the present invention is applicable in a roll-type collator having at least two sets of continuous rolls of paper which are fed over corersponding sets of driven arbors and cylinders. The process effects an increase in the feed rate of a given web to synchronize it with the feed rates of the other webs and comprises the steps of forming a frictional surface on at least a portion of the circumference of the driven arbor associated with the Web to be synchronized, the diameter of the frictional surface being greater than the diameter of the arbor; applying a force substantially normal to the surface of the web to be synchronized at a point where the Web passes over the frictional surface of the arbor to force the Web into substantially rolling contact with the arbor. The magnitude of the force so applied may be adjusted to vary the amount of slippage between the web and the arbor until the feed rate of the web is synchronized.

The apparatus employed in carrying out the process of the present invention comprises a tubular member open at a first end to slidably fit over the arbor associated with the web to be synchronized for rotation therewith. The tubular member has a greater outside diameter than that of the arbor and includes a collar of frictional material disposed about at; least a portion of its circumferential surface and a bushing mounted at a second end thereof. A link is rotatably mounted on the bushing in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tubular member. A support rod disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the tubular member is secured at a first end to the link and at a second end to the collator frame. Finally, means for increasing the feed rate of the web are mounted on the support rod adjacent the frictional collar of the tubular member for slidable contact with the web to be synchronized at the point where it passes over the frictional collar. The web to be synchroniz d is forced into more substantial contact with the frictional collar to reduce slippage of the sheet with respect to the collar thereby increasing the feed rate of the web.

The force applied by the means for increasing the feed rate of the web may be varied until the feed rates are synchronized. This adjustment may be made while the collator is in operation and may be corrected periodically as required. If desired, any number of the present devices may be employed simultaneously to enable the operator to increase the feed rate of any web as required. It is contemplated that the present method and apparatus may be utilized both with collators employing separate webs of carbon paper to be interposed between the paper webs and with collators employing paper webs having a coating on their reverse surfaces to transfer written or typed characters in lieu of separate webs of carbon paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a conventional roll-type collator with the apparatus of the present invention in place; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention in place on a conventional roll-type collator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The process and apparatus of the present invention may best be understood in conjunction with an explanation of the operation of a conventional roll-type collator which utilizes separate carbon paper webs.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, typical components of a conventional roll-type collator include continuous rolls of paper 10, a and continuous rolls of carbon paper 11, 11a rotatably mounted on spindles 12, 12a and 13, 130: respectively. The paper webs 10, 1011 are fed from their respective spindles 12, 12a by a suitable driving means such as 14, 14a which frictionally engage the outermost layer of paper, and the carbon paper webs 11, 11a are fed from their respective spindles 13, 13a by suitable driving means 15, 15a which are similar to driving means 14, 14a. The paper 10, 10a and carbon paper 11, 11a pass over dancers 16, 16a and 17, 17a respectively, feed rollers 18, 18a and 19, 19a respectively, and guides 22, 22a and 23, 23a respectively. The paper webs 10, 10a and carbon paper webs 11, 11a are brought into surface contact on driven pinwheeel cylinders 24, 24a which have a plurality of upstanding pins 25, 25a radially disposed about their circumferences. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper webs 10, 10a have a plurality of pre-punched holes 26 along one marginal edge 27 which register with the pins 25, 25a. The carbon paper webs 11, 11a do not include holes. As the paper webs 10, 10a and carbon paper webs 11, 11a leave the respective pinwheel cylinders 24, 24a they pass over glue lines 28, 28a which glue them together at the marginal edge 27.

A conventional roll-type collator comprises a series of components identical to the two described above. The components are arranged in line to feed a plurality of paper and carbon paper webs over pinwheel cylinders thereby forming a complete paper-carbon set. The sheets being fed from upstream components are diagrammatically indicated by the reference numeral 30. When the set has been built up to the desired number of copies, the continuous paper-carbon paper web is severed at appropriate intervals to produce the finished article.

Registry of the printed matter on the several webs 10, 10a, 30 is usually maintained by the pins 25, 25a of the pinwheel cylinder 24, 24a and by the pins of identical pinwheel cylinders of the other components, not shown. However, because of irregularities in the paper, feed rates of the several webs tend to vary with the result that the final set will not be in registry. This tendency is more pronounced in those webs which are fed from upstream components because they travel over greater distances and pass over a greater number of pinwheel cylinders. Should either or both the paper web 10, 10a feed too rapidly in relation to the other webs of the set, its feed rate may be decreased by a braking mechanism, not shown, which acts on the paper spindle 12 or 12a. The amount of braking force can be regulated by the respective dancers 16, 1611 which are operatively connected to the respective braking mechanisms. But, if web 10 or 10a feeds too slowly, its feed rate may not be increased readily because the upper limit of the web feed rate is generally determined by the angular velocity of the pinwheel cylinders 24, 24a. Eventually, the collator must be shut down and the particular pinwheel cylinder adjusted to bring the set back into registry. Because the decreased feed rate results from irregularities in the paper roll, frequent adjustments are usually necessary. The method and apparatus of the present invention permit a continuous correction of a long sheet thus reducing waste and down-time.

In accordance with the present method, a frictional surface is formed on at least a portion of a driven arbor or 35a which is associated with the respective web 10, 10a to be synchronized. The frictional surface has a diameter greater than the diameter of the arbor 35 or 35a. Thereafter, a force is applied substantially normal to the surface of the web 10 or 10a at a point where it passes over the frictional surface on the arbor 35 or 35a to force the web into substantially rolling contact with the arbor .35 or 35a thereby increasing the feed rate of the associated web 10 or 10a because the velocity of the frictional surface is greater than that of the web. The magnitude of the force may be adjusted to vary the amount of slippage between the web 10 or 10a and the associated arbor 35 or 35a until the feed rate of the web is synchronized with the feed rates of the other webs.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a tubular member 41 open at a first end 42 fit slidably over the arbor associated with the web to be synchronized. The tubular member 41 is keyed to the arbor for rotation therewith by screw 43 or other suitable means. A collar 44 of rubber or other suitable frictional material is disposed about a portion of the circumferential surface of the tubular member 41 and a bushing 45 is mounted at a second end 46 of the tubular member 41. The collar 44 has an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the arbor.

A link 48 is rotatably mounted on the bushing 45 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the arbor and tubular member 41. The length of link 48 may be altered to facilitate mounting by changing the effective length of central portion 49 having longitudinal slots 51, 52. Set screws 53, 54 accomplish the adjustment in the conventional manner.

A support rod 56 is disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the tubular member 41. The support rod is secured at a first end 57 to the link 48 and at a second end 59 to a hold-down bar 61 which is mounted on the collator frame.

As shown best in FIG. 2, a brush 63 having bristles 64 is adjustably mounted on the support rod 56 adjacent the frictional collar 44. The bristles 64 may be positioned for slidable contact with the web 10 as it is fed over the frictional collar 44. The normal force exerted by the bristles 64 on the web 10 urges the web 10 into a more substantial contact with the frictional collar 44 and reduces slippage of the web 10 with respect to the collar 44 thereby increasing the feed rate of the web 10. While the collator is in operation, the amount of force applied by the bristles 64 may be varied by adjusting the position of the brush 63 until the feed rates of the webs are syncronized. Any number of the present apparatus may be employed in combination with a given collator to enable the adjustment of any web as required.

I claim:

1. In combination with a roll-type collator having a frame and sets of continuous webs of paper to be fed over corresponding sets of driven arbors and cylinders mounted on the frame, apparatus for increasing the feed rate of a given paper web to synchronize it with the feed rate of the other paper webs comprising (a) a tubular member open at a first end to fit slidably over the arbor associated with the web to be synchronized for rotation therewith, the tubular member having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the arbor and including a collar of frictional material disposed about at least a portion of its circumferential surface and a bushing mounted at a second end of the tubular member,

(b) a link rotatably mounted on the bushing in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member,

(c) a support rod disposed parallel to and spaced from the tubular member, the support rod being secured at a first end to the link and being secured at a second end to the collator frame, and

(d) means for increasing the feed rate of the web to be synchronized adjustably mounted on the support rod adjacent the frictional collar on the tubular member for slidable contact with the web to be synchronized as it is fed over the frictional collar, the web to be synchronized being forced into more substantial contact frictional collar to reduce slippage of the web with respect to the Collar thereby to increase the feed rate of the web.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the link may be altered to facilitate securing the support rod to the frame.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means 5 6 for increasing the feed rate of the web to be synchronized FOREIGN 1?ATENTS comprises a brush having bristles adjustably mounted 490,305 8/1938 Great Britain on the support rod.

EUGENE "R. CAPOZI'O, Primary Examiner References Clted 5 P. V. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,267 3/1949 lRitzert 270--s2 226 34 3,027,160 3/1962 Witt 270 s2 3,094,320 6/1963 Huck 270 52 10 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 1510. 531 101 patedW lnventoks) Roserio. Paul Consalv o J It is certified that error ape ears in the above-identified patent; and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

.Column 4 1 ir1es 67-68, after f 'c0ntact" add with theand SIGNED'ANQ SEALED rm 1% MmdlLFlewhmJr. l Officer Mum Patents J 

